Six CSB and SJU graduates part of pioneer class at U of M/CentraCare medical school

Alarie Chu has been part of history before.

The 2019 St. Cloud Tech High School graduate was a member of the last class to graduate from the old Tech High School building. From there, she went on to the College of Saint Benedict, graduating in the spring of 2023 with a degree in biology on a pre-med track.

Now Chu is making history again as part of the first class of aspiring physicians at the newly opened University of Minnesota Medical School’s CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud. The school is a partnership between the U of M and CentraCare, the largest health care provider in Central Minnesota.

It marks the first expansion of the U of M’s medical school since the Duluth campus opened in 1972, and its mission is to train students interested in pursuing careers in rural health care – assuring more doctors in areas where the need is only expected to rise in the coming years.

The first class of 24 students begin classes later this month, and six of that group – including Chu – are CSB and SJU graduates.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “In a way, it feels like things are coming full circle. I was born and raised in St. Cloud and went to Tech High School. I was part of the last class there before they opened the new school. Now I’m part of another milestone class in the St. Cloud area. Having a medical school open means a lot to this area and I’m really proud to be part of getting it off the ground.”

Joining Chu in the first class will be fellow 2023 graduate Abigail Widmer, 2024 graduates Emma Lundgren, Peyton Kopel and Connor Veldman and 2025 graduate Grayson Kobluk.

“The success of our students in their applications to UMMS-SC reflects their academic excellence and their commitment to the ideals and principles that led to the establishment of the UMMS CentraCare campus in St. Cloud – making rural life healthier,” said Mani Campos, who earned a Ph.D. in biology from Penn State and has served as a biology professor and advisor for pre-med students at CSB and SJU for well over 25 years.

“In the tradition of our Benedictine values of community and service, our students are committed to working and living with underserved populations in rural, critical access areas, addressing one of the most pressing health care needs in our state.”

Indeed, Lundgren said the aim of the new medical school perfectly matched her career goals.

“I did a lot of shadowing work when I was at Saint Ben’s, and those experiences helped me decide early on that I wanted to go the rural route,” the Sartell High School graduate said. “So when I saw this school was opening up, it seemed to check all my boxes. There is such a great need for medical students who want to practice in rural areas, and I really like the fact that rural medicine has less specialization. It allows you the chance to practice a broader scope of medicine. That fits with the picture I’ve drawn for myself when it comes to where I want to end up.”

Veldman, too, said he is drawn to the rural medicine route.

“I’ve always felt like it would be nice to be able to give back to a community similar to the one I grew up in,” said Veldman, a native of Hollandale, a small town of just over 300 people located outside Albert Lea.

“That’s where I want to be.”

Chu, Lundgren and Veldman all said being part of helping the new medical school establish its foothold in the Central Minnesota community means a lot to them.

“The first word that comes to mind is exciting and the second is just a little scary,” Lundgren said. “Scary just because there is a bit of the unknown. We didn’t know going in what our class schedule would look like. There wasn’t even a campus to tour when we applied. But it’s exciting to know that we will be the first students to make our marks there. This is an established brand taking on a new and exciting project for the Central Minnesota community, and for rural areas all over the state.”

“So many of us spent a lot of time working at St. Cloud Hospital when we were at CSB and SJU,” Chu added. “We became intertwined with the CentraCare community there. So it’s a great feeling to have the chance to be part of taking this first new step with them.”